Calyptomyrmex sparsus

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Calyptomyrmex sparsus
Calyptomyrmex sparsus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Calyptomyrmex
Species: C. sparsus
Binomial name
Calyptomyrmex sparsus
Shattuck, 2011

Calyptomyrmex sparsus side view

Calyptomyrmex sparsus top view

This rare species is known from a single collection of two workers encountered while pyrethrum fogging rainforest logs and trees in Far North Queensland.

Identification

Shattuck (2011) - Hairs on head and body spatulate (noticeably narrower near the body and expanded distally and with a rounded tip), gaster weakly punctate (fading posteriorly), propodeum armed with low, angular spines, in dorsal view petiole only slightly broader than long and oval in shape, body larger (HW > 1.12) and head longer than broad (CI < 98).

This species is similar to Calyptomyrmex fritillus but differs in having a larger body (head width > 1.12mm) and in dorsal view the petiole is only slightly broader than long and is oval in shape (in fritillus the body is smaller (head width < 0.82mm) and in dorsal view the petiole is much broader than long and rectangular in shape). It differs from the very similar Calyptomyrmex danum in being larger (head witdth > 1.12mm vs. head width < 1.12mm) and having the head longer than broad (CI < 98 vs. CI > 104 in danum). For additional differences see Calyptomyrmex danum.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -17.23333° to -17.23333°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • sparsus. Calyptomyrmex sparsus Shattuck, 2011a: 22, figs. 16, 18 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

(n = 2) - CFW 0.25–0.27; CI 95–96; HL 1.20–1.21; HW 1.14–1.16; ML 1.25–1.26; MTL 0.65–0.66; PetI 127–143; PetL 0.26–0.28; PetW 0.35–0.37; PronW 0.78–0.78; SI 55–62; SL 0.64–0.71.

Mandibles indistinctly striate. Eyes with 5–6 ommatidia in greatest diameter. Propodeum in lateral view with low, angular spines. Propodeal lobes uniform in thickness. Node of petiole in profile slightly higher and larger than that of postpetiole. In dorsal view the petiolar node slightly narrower than the postpetiolar node. Head with longitudinal, slightly wavy rugae which diverge and fade posteriorly and are superimposed over a punctate background. Promesonotum indistinctly foveolate, sides of mesosoma indistinctly rugose, entire mesosoma with a punctate background. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster punctate, the strength of the sculpture on the gaster fading slightly posteriorly. Hairs on head and body spatulate and appressed. Clypeal fork with spatulate hairs only. Colour dark red-brown, the legs and gaster slightly lighter.

Type Material

  • Holotype, worker, upper Mulgrave Rd., Kearneys Falls, Queensland, Australia, 10 December 1988, Monteith & Thompson, ANIC32-053402, Australian National Insect Collection; logs and trees.
  • Paratype, 1 worker, upper Mulgrave Rd., Kearneys Falls, Queensland, Australia, 10 December 1988, Monteith & Thompson, ANIC32-047434, Australian National Insect Collection; logs and trees.

References